Improvement in meat-chopping machines



SPIEHLMAN.

@'Meat Chopping-Machines. 13.6,624

Patented March 11,1873.

V` No.

AM Pf/aTa LimosnAPH/c cu. AL msaonuf's macgss) UNITED STATES-f PATENT" oni-mon.

anonce .sriEHLMAN, oF srrnAsBUne, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMRROVEMENT iN MEAT-CHOPPING MAGHINES- Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No.1 36,624, dated March 1l, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

y Be it known that LGORGE SPIEHLMAN, of Strasburg, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Meat-Shopping Machines, of which the following is a specification:

The nature of my invention relates to a combination of a series of coiledA springs, an adjustin g cross-bar, lever, curved rack, and catch, and so hinged to the top of adjustable vertical shafts connected w'ith'the cutting-bladesvor choppers as to relieve the strain upon said springs when rapidly and successively actuated by a series of litters spirally placed around a horizontal shaft; said shaft also actuating a revolving block supporting` a cylinder having an inclined plane upon its rim for operating a bell to time the revolutions.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my improved construction and arrangement of the several parts of the machine, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, detached portions to show parts hidden from View, ret'- erence being had to the letters marked thereon, will more clearly appear.

A shows the supporting-block on legs a af, with a frame-Work, D D d J e G G H, and arms E .F, an ordinary revolving block, B, with a hoop-ratchet, -b, around the bottom, and a cylinder, C, of the ordinary kind, only that I provide an inclinedplane on the outer upper margin of the cylinder, for the purpose of actuating the stem Y of a hammer, Z, to strike a bell, 1', on` completing each revolutionof the block B. This revolution is produced by a pawl, w, connected to an elbow-lever, W, and with a connecting-rod and eccentric, V, on the outer end next the handle H H, by which motion is given to the main sha-ft. Crank-handles H H are shown on both ends of said shaft, on which also is a series of sixl pair of S- shaped lifters, so arranged as to have their termini equidistant apart in the circle-they form spirally across the shaft for operating the six` shafts' 1, 23, 4, 5, and 6 of the cuttingblades or choppers U. These shafts are flat, and have the edges beveled, and are heldin a vertical position by the inner and outer guidebars K L M N, having triangular notches for 'the bevel edge of the shaft to slide in. The

outer guide-bars K L are hinged at one end and held at the otherY by pin, m, in an open slotted plate, so that theycan-be turned aside Vto remove the shafts of the cutters. These shafts have'each a notch, say, at a point onethird of their length from the top, in order to support them by means of a turn-button, fn, on the top of the inner guide-plate N', resting on the top frame-piece G, sothat all the shafts can be raised and held without danger, when cleaning or turning the block, of being moved by turning or the action of the springs.V -Each shaft is provided at its upper end with a hinged cross-head, p, the central pin being sufficiently thick to be perforated for the end of a coiled spring, I", to pass through, thus forming a double hinge to prevent undue friction in the rise and fall of the shafts. These shafts are further provided with anti-friction pulleys t on bolts; these bolts can be shifted by means cfa series of holes made in the shaft for their reception to raise the pulleys t to the center height of the lifting-shaft, as the block wears down in the course of time and use.

Each hinged cross-head1 on the choppershafts has a double spiral-spring action. These sprin gsP, of which sixpair are shown, are coiled around a central cross-bar, Q, having its bearings in the studs I I mounted on the top beam G of the machine. This cross-bar Q is connected to or embraced by the forked end of a lever, R, which has a curved rack, s, the proper radius so that the teeth will engage into a fixed catch,`h, on the rear cross-piece H from Gr Gr. The two brace'rods Z Z are shown, and the bell r.

The chopping or cuttingblades U are centrally the longest, and cut down closely to the sides of a central plug, q, in the block, inserted to o ccupy the point on which meat usually lodges and escapes the cutting-blades. There is a like tendency of larger pieces of meat getting behind the cutters, and close to the cylinder or case Gland lodge. To prevent this Ifprovidea vertical plate, 'aaron a stem, g, held in keeper on the frame D. This plate closes the space between the outer cutter 6 and the side of the cylinder C, diagonally on the block. This plate, while it acts as a check-plate to arrest and convey the meat next the inner side ofthe case so as to bring it all under the action of the cutting-blades, also performs the` oi`ce of scrapers to cleanse the sides of the cylinder.

The eccentric action of V on the pawl, by the intervention of the elbow-lever, gives the block a comparatively slow motiona notch to each revolution'of the litters-,causing the blades each to cut twice, or producing twelve distinct cuts. `This'- slow movement of the block and rapid motion of the cutters orchoppers is so eectual that it has been foundon trial that three revolutions of the block will minceforty-'iive pounds of meat, be theyslow or fast, as the same number of cuts will be made. Inporder to indicate each revolution ofthe block I lhave attached a bell, 1', with a hammer and spring action, actuated by an inclined plane or hammer-lifter on the outer top edge of the revolving cylinder. I also use a stationary pawl, or, with a spring, to hold or prevent a retrograde movement ofthe block.

I am aware that spiral sprin gs and vertical shafts and lifters of various kinds have been used before; but in order to secure the proper action of adjustable coiled springs, so as to prevent too great a strain and danger of breaking,

I- use the springs P in pairs aldxed to a central turning-pivot in the eyes of the pieces forming the cross-head p, hinged to the top of the shafts l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, thereby lessenin g the stra-in on the springs and the friction of the shafts, ditering substantially from any arrangement heretofore used.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. The coiled springs P, made adjustable by the cross-bar Q, lever R, and curved rack S, and catchh, in combination with the cross- 'h`eads p, hinged to the top of the vertical shafts ofthe cutting-blades or choppers U, arranged and operating substantially in the manner an( for the purpose specified.

2. The attachment of the bell r, hammer z, and appliances, when actuated by means ot an inclined plane on the upper and outer portion of the rim or cylinder C on the revolving block B, arranged substantially in the man ner and for the purpose mentioned.

vGEORGE SPIEHLMAN. Witnesses:

JOSEPH B. SMITH, JACOB HILDEBRAND. 

